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Mister Miracle #1, review by Shane Will

by ckcomicbooks on October 9, 2017 at 9:47 pm
Posted In: Comics We're Reading

From dccomics.com:
“From the team behind THE SHERIFF OF BABYLON and the Hugo Award-nominated writer of Vision comes a unique new take on one of Jack Kirby’s most beloved New Gods. Scott Free is the greatest escape artist that ever lived. So great that he escaped Granny Goodness’ gruesome orphanage and the dangers of Apokolips to travel across galaxies and set up a new life on Earth with his wife, the former female fury known as Big Barda. Using the stage alter ego of Mister Miracle, he has made a career for himself showing off his acrobatic escape techniques. He even caught the attention of the Justice League, which counted him among its ranks. You might say Scott Free has everything…so why isn’t it enough? Mister Miracle has mastered every illusion, achieved every stunt, pulled off every trick—except one. He has never escaped death. Is it even possible? Our hero is going to have to kill himself if he wants to find out. Written by Tom King (BATMAN) and illustrated by Mitch Gerads (The Punisher), this is a MISTER MIRACLE unlike any you’ve read before.”


Mister Miracle #1
Published by DC Comics
Writer:  Tom King
Artists:  Mitch Gerads
Release Date:  First Issue July 2016

For more information or to order online Click Here
If you live near me in the Chico Ca area get your copy at Collector’s Ink
In the Redding Ca area?  Go talk to the team at Caption Comics
How about Manteca CA?  Fantastic Collectibles can help you out.
And in the Sacramento CA area, say hello to my buddy Gene and
have him get you a copy at Comics & Collectibles

 

Let me get this off my chest really quick…I LOVED THIS COMIC!!!

Now, at the writing of this issue 2 is out as well, and yes I’ve already read that one too (and continued my love affair), I’m going to focus on issue one here.

Something has happened, something bad, and possibly something that Mister Miracle for the first time can not escape.  The book opens with Scott being found in a bathroom with his wrists slit opened, he’s attempting suicide.  This book uses art and panels really interestingly.  Where as in “The Death of Superman” each issue building up to the finale, saw the art per page getting larger, the opening of this first issue does the opposite.  I know that sounds counter to current comics style (and it is), but it does something really neat.  See the first couple pages have splash art that gets smaller, until we hit the standard for the book, a page with 9 panels.  With this setup, the art is used in a way that dialogue balloons and thought balloons would be used.  It keeps the story tight and makes it feel intimate.

The center plot of this issue is Scott and Barda dealing with what Scott did.  She cares deeply for her husband, staying close to him.  Then Orion shows up.  Boom Tubing into their home he confronts Scott, telling him to stand, and knocking him down, repeatedly, until Barda awakens to the commotion. Orion states he’s there to teach Scott a lesson, and leaves.  It’s at this point Scott starts noticing things he thought were different, like his wife’s eye are brown, but he could swear they were blue.

A scene follows of Mister Miracle on TV escaping.  These scenes start to build a pressure that’s on Scott’s shoulders.  He tells the talk show host after the escape, why he attempted suicide.  That he found death to be something he hadn’t attempted to escape before, so that was his try.  The whole scene plays out in a weird celebrity interview like on the Tonight Show, where Scott is hamming it up for the crowd.

Darkseid is a major theme of this issue, coming up in conversation, and the occasional black panel with only the words “Darkseid Is…”.  This plays up and builds off of two things going on in the book.  One, a war is brewing between the New Gods.  Two, memories of childhood where he was asked by a teacher to draw whatever he wanted, he says he drew God, the teacher says “no one knows what God looks like”, he responds “until now”.

The issue ends with Mister Miracle and Big Barda in costume, waiting in their living room for a Boom Tube.  They’ve heard the call and are off to war.  Is Scott mentally prepared?

This book had me at hello, but kept me till the “to be continued”.  Great take on these classic characters. Issue one sold out instantly, and my flcs has told me their is a reprint coming, and two is running out as well.  This book is going places, and every one of you should not miss it.   Can’t wait for issue three now!

Till next time everyone, keep reading comics!

Shane Will

 

└ Tags: Batman, big barda, CK Comics, DC Comics, fantasy, jack kirby, Justice Leage, lightray, mister miracle, Mitch Gerads, new gods, orion, sci-fi, scott free, Shane Will, Superman, the punisher, tom king
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iZombie Vol #1 “Dead to the World” Part one, Review by Maria Byrd

by ckcomicbooks on October 7, 2017 at 2:26 am
Posted In: Comics We're Reading

Told from a female zombie’s perspective, this smart, witty detective series mixes urban fantasy and romantic dramedy.

Gwendolyn “Gwen” Dylan is a 20-something gravedigger in an eco-friendly cemetery. Once a month she must eat a human brain to keep from losing her memories, but in the process she becomes consumed with the thoughts and personality of the dead person – until she eats her next brain. She sets out to fulfill the dead person’s last request, solve a crime or right a wrong

iZombie Vol.izombie-deadworld 1 “Dead to the World”
Published by Vertigo
Writer:  Chris Roberson
Artists:  Michael Allred, Laura Allred, and Todd Klein
Release Date: March 2011

To own a shiny issue of this book, hunt down a local comic book shop.

For any that aren’t in close driving distance to a shop or you just have a preference for digital (I don’t judge) here’s the amazon link here

 

Greetings and Salutations readers,

Maria here with the new comic review of the day!

From the moment the Boss asked me how good I was at book reports and my eye slowly ceased its nervous twitching, I knew at some point I would do this comic. iZombie was my first official rabbit hole in the world of comics (Gwen Dylan has seriously been my phone background going on 4 years and two different phones). I was kind of a late comic bloomer, I blame old musicals and a town that mostly deals in tourism and cows.

I stumbled upon iZombie while looking at buying Hellblazer and Sandman comics online. Being part of the Big Two adjacent label Vertigo I was intrigued. I had been watching the new show on CW and thought it was a fun take on the already over saturated zombie trend so I decided to take a chance on the comic. What I found was a crazy Lovecraftian love letter to horror, very different from its shiny, polished TV counterpart. I still enjoy the TV show in its own way and twitter like a dork at every in joke and reference they throw in for the comic fans. While I am firmly in the opinion that TV totally needs more were-terriers, I understand that this series is pretty damn weird and it probably wouldn’t have nearly the same success of the current TV version. Plus, it’s always fun to talk about were-terriers to people who have no idea what I’m saying.

Since these volumes average around 130 pages each (and the amount I am capable of babbling about a 25 page comic let alone a +100 page one) for obvious reasons I will be doing this in multiple parts, with some other short comics mixed in as occasional palate cleansers, until I cover all the volumes. I considered covering the whole series in one go, but I’m fairly sure the focused power of my fangirly babbling might cause everyone’s oversouls to go on strike and bring about some sort of cataclysmic apocalypse with some tentacle toting elder god thrown in for good measure. Or I just bore the hell out of everyone…. One of those.

Onward to the Review of iZombie Vol 1 Dead to the World Part 1 written by Chris Roberson, with art by Michael Allred, color by Laura Allred, and lettering by Todd Klein

The story starts on Halloween in Eugene, Oregon with our narrator commenting on her general dislike for Halloween. Which is crazy because Halloween is easily one of the best holidays next to any day immediately after any candy centric holiday when candy is half price. Meanwhile in a fancy old house (creepy Victorian that has an immediate aura of gloom, you know the type.) A guy with everything from the neck down bandaged like a mummy and strange occult looking patterns on his face is giving a very serial killery, grandiose monologue to a guy strapped to a hospital bed. To complete the whole evil guy aesthetic, he also has a large white cheetah/ panther type pet lounging on the couch. His dialogue suggests this big cat may be more than just a cat. But enough about Creepy Mcgee, soon the doorbell rings and after donning one of a selection of random masks he has he opens the door to the people we mainly care about (sorry dude it’s too early in the story for me to particularly care about your creepy shenanigans quite yet. Don’t completely forget about him though, he does become very important as the story develops).

Just outside the door is our main three characters Scott (called Spot by Gwen, which he doesn’t like but is too in love with Gwen to push the matter) the were-terrier proudly enjoying the freedom of Halloween in his shaggy terrier glory (he’s basically a Scottie terrier with human proportions), A very bored looking Gwen Dylan, dressed as Shaun from Shaun of the Dead, and Ellie the Ghost rocking an old school sheet ghost costume. Caught unaware by the trick or treaters creepy guy just gives them all random stuff in his house to make them go away, equating to a tin of breath mints for Ellie, an umbrella for Gwen, and a rock for Scott.

Unlike her savvy could have been a brain surgeon TV counterpart, Gwen is a grave digger at a local cemetery, she hints she isn’t originally from Eugene and how easy it was to just leave her life after she ‘died’. She is currently squatting in a mausoleum at the cemetery which is how she originally met Ellie. From the looks of Ellie she died sometime in the 60’s from her black knee high gogo boots to her blond beehive-esque hairstyle she definitely stands out in their group of friends, well, if anyone else could really see her on the regular.

There’s a quick glimpse at a side story about a paintball range that’s run by vampires. Something that was ever so slightly hinted at in the TV show but to my disappointment, no sorority of female vampires was anywhere to be seen. Way to drop the ball, CW. They hang out with Scott at a diner and not much happens except establishing how into Gwen he is and how much that probably isn’t going to happen. There’s also a quick glimpse at a couple of fellows in a car talking about some sort of shadowy corporation and how there’s been a “marked increase in postmortem activity in Eugene during the last year”. Back from the diner it’s time for Gwen to get some supper of her own. She states that she has to eat at least once a month, lest she become a shambling zombie mess. Gwen hates eating brains and likens the taste to “imagine – like motor oil and someone else’s vomit – and you won’t even come close to the level of nasty”. Without any fancy cooking montages that make me slightly insecure in my cooking prowess while also making brains look kind of good, Gwen just opts to chow down right there in the burial plot. Upon eating she’s besieged by the dead guy’s memories, she sees that he was murdered and he wants vengeance. In the comic Gwen is more at the whims of the memories, not unlike characters who can see ghosts and help them with unfinished business. Gwen wants nothing more than to just live her life but for a week she is besieged by the unfinished business of any brain she consumes. Which sometimes leads to some very Scooby Doo esque type mystery solving, except Daphne is a ghost and Scooby and Shaggy are an I.T. guy at a retirement home that occasionally turns into a were-terrier.

Welp, that’s my time for today. Keep checking back to the website for more fun reviews from Shane and I and possibly some other cool contributions from fellow CK staff. Shane’s also working hard on some sweet new stories from our flagship superhero Caliber that will be showing up in print soon. As well as some shiny new pages from our favorite foul mouthed monster hunters the Monster Operatives and our favorite ray gun toting badass Sir Cybi (pronounced cubby) Knight of the West will continue to be updated on our Webcomics section. Don’t forget to check out Shane/ CK Comics Patreon, every bit of support helps keep this awesome train a rolling.

-Maria B.

 

└ Tags: chris roberson, CK Comics, Dead to the World, ghosts, iZombie, iZombie Volume 1, laura allred, maria byrd, Michael Allred, review, todd klein, vampires, were-terriers, zombies
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Ghost Wolf #1 “The Horde Of Fangs”, Review by Shane Will

by ckcomicbooks on October 6, 2017 at 6:50 pm
Posted In: Comics We're Reading

I was walking in a comic shop and saw this cover.  It evoked images of one of my favorite comic heroes, Conan the Barbarian.  Depicting a barbarian esque woman with a giant axe, a wolf mask, standing on a battlefield (and bodies), covered in blood.  “I must buy this comic”, I thought to myself.  And by it I did, and I’m happy I did.  This, ladies and gentlemen is Ghost Wolf.

Ghost Wolf #1: “The Horde of Fangs”
Published by Amigo
Writer:  El Torres
Artists:  Juanfra MB
Release Date: May 2017

For more information or to order online Click Here

 

 

 

 

 

“Hundreds of years have passed and the Ghost Wolf, the spirit sworn to protect and take revenge on the night horrors, is nowhere to be seen.  When some monsters suddenly awoken, a warrior; the woman called Mara, took the mantle of the ancient spirit.  But this happened some time ago… and an age of peace came.” -El Torres

Although I purchased this book thinking it would be a clone of Conan, I am happy to say it’s not.  Ghost wolf is more like a fantasy world with a violent superhero (a legacy hero in fact), protecting a tribe, granted abilities of a demigod.  Yes it’s dark fantasy, yes it’s violent, but the character and background are vastly different, and that my friends is a good thing.

Music and bardic arts are a big part of this story.  We’re greeted on the first page by a bardic spirit (Blind Bard), who’s song can chill and kill.  Then we meet at a dinner in a hall another bard, who becomes a main character himself.

The main plot of this issue is the introduction of a new cult of the Ghost Wolf.  Not connected to the actual main character Ghost Wolf, they worship the deity that grants the power, and they are out for blood.  They attack a military camp right out the gate, where we get some great art of some great and bloody dark fantasy violence.  The Legion was there as part of an agreement with the local Jarl, under his protection as different factions were working out trade agreements.  News of these attacks brings out the Ghost Wolf, Mara.

When the last survivor of the attack awakens in the Jarl’s home, he describes the attack, as well as the offenders.  There was one that had been with the Legion Mara and the Jarl were concerned about.  This lone survivor believed them to be dead, but Mara must see for herself, or kill every last one of the horde.  So she sets off to find them, epic battle ensues.

She carves her way to answers.  Answers she may not have wanted…

I’m trying not to spoil to much so I’ll stop there on the plot description.  My hope is you’ll pick it up and read it.  I loved the heck out of this book, and am headed to my friend;y local comic shop today to get the next couple issue, or comixology tonight if they are sold out.  The art is fantastic, and the story is exciting and grabbed me hard.  One thing I enjoyed was, this was a big comic, and nice long read, where as a lot of single issue “floppies” only take me about 10 minutes to read.

Ghost Wolf my not be for everybody.  It’s not kid friendly, with blood/violence/nudity, but if that’s your thing, you’ll enjoy this book.

Time for me to make a wolf mask! Till next time everyone, keep reading comics!

Shane Will

└ Tags: Amigo, Amigo COmics, CK Comics, Conan, El Torres, fantasy, Ghost Wolf, he-man, horror, Shane Will
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Villian #1: Chapter One “The Beginning”, Review By Maria Byrd

by ckcomicbooks on October 6, 2017 at 3:07 am
Posted In: Comics We're Reading
The VILLAIN has already won. He has already exacted his revenge on the heroes of Legend City. Galaxy, once called, The Champion of Legend City, is the only hero allowed to live. He returns after 5 years of exile to tell the villain that tonight is the night he will die. Villain is a tale of revenge. Villain tells the story of Matthew Ford on his quest to destroy the heroes of Legend City. After a bank robbery goes wrong, the heroes have to make a choice; save a group of hostages or get the bad guy. The heroes’ choices and actions set off a chain of events that forever clenches their fate and gives birth to their nemesis. Matthew carves a blood soaked path through the heroes on his quest for revenge and therefore becomes the ultimate SUPER VILLAIN.

Villain #1: Chapter One “The Beginning”
Published by Alpha Q Comics
Writer:  Nathan Gonzales
Artists:  Tobe Daranouvong
Inks:  Larry Haines

Release Date:  July 2013

For more information or to order online Click Here

 

 

 

Greetings and salutations readers,

Yesterday’s review seems oh so long ago, but since my Caliber in a speedo suggestion continues to gain no traction from the Boss (not even Caliber in one of Katie’s signature outfits. You know he’d totally rock a miniskirt and heavily cut up Misfits shirt. Possibly a purple faux hawk). I suppose I should get down to some actual work. There were a few awesome looking first issues I wanted to get to chat about. After much consultation with my trusty administrative assistant feline, Raistlin. We finally decided to keep this Indie train a going with some good friends of ours. Today I am reviewing issue #1 of Alpha Q Comics main title Villain written by Nathan Gonzales with art by Tobe Daranouvong, and Larry Haines and edited by Shanda Daranouvong.

This book is based around a simple premise ‘What if the bad guy wins?’. As I get older there is always something nice about a book, movie, TV show, or comic book that takes the time to make their characters’ human and relatable. I believe Nathan did a great job from the onset. This was my first read of Chapter 1 and I’m sure I’ll be ransacking the house for the rest soon.

The story primarily takes place through flashbacks between “Then” and “Now”. It starts “Then” by showing glimpses just barely in frame of the main character suiting up while watching the news. A mass breakout at the penitentiary occurred and the cities best hope lies with their more spandex clad individuals (and I don’t mean bicyclists). In a total display of villainous showmanship, he blasts the TV while stating “I am a villain. A SUPER VILLAIN!”. As far as initial character intros go it’s pretty solid, but how will he watch TV now! I know revenge and building an empire on the bodies of dead superheroes can take up a lot of personal time but sometimes you just gotta chill and watch baking shows for a bit.  This story covers his first meeting as a masked vigilante with the Superhero named Galaxy who takes to this new ‘hero’ immediately. Galaxy gives our villain the superhero name of Alpha and invites him to possibly be part of the group. Flash forward to “Now” he sits in the penthouse office of Omega Corp, the fruits of his long planned revenge. as Galaxy returns from a long sabbatical of wandering the depths of space where he comes back to face the man he trusted. The man who betrayed him.  The coloring and style works well, the “Then” segments have a more grey scale look to them with a
purpleish tint. Giving those moments a kind of ‘rose tinted glasses’ type of feel. While the “Now” segments are in full, bright colors. Nathan’s writing is great and I look forward to reading more issues to see more of his great sense of humor.

For more details, I heavily suggest you roll on over to http://villaincomic.storenvy.com/ and get yourselves the first 5 issues. The Villain website uploads a new page in the story every Wednesday and once they print an issue they pull those pages from their website. The Website also carries a variety of origin stories on various characters for free.

Check by regularly for more reviews from Me(Maria), Shane, and other folks in the CK Comics crew!

-Maria B.

Sooki loves  it too…

└ Tags: Alpha, Alpha Q, Batman, Caliber, chaotik fiction, CK Comics, Comic, comic book, comic books, comics, fantasy, horror, Larry Haines, Matthew Ford, Nathan Gonzales, Omega, sci-fi, Tobe Daranouvong, Villain, web comic, web comics
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Judge Dredd #1: Funko Universe, Review by Shane Will

by ckcomicbooks on October 5, 2017 at 8:50 pm
Posted In: Comics We're Reading


Reading this book made me want a pug even more than I did before.  Long live Judge Pug, he is the law!.  Okay I’m jumping the lawgiver (gun) here.  Let’s roll back and start at the beginning.  Took a few minute comic break about 3am last night and had the pleasure of reading this special from IDW, Judge Dredd: Funko Universe.  And, what a pleasure it was.  It’s exactly what it sounds like, Judge Dredd with a cute and fun “Pop” twist.  This book did a great thing by keeping the feeling of the character, but still making it cute and fun for all ages.  Part of the “Funko Universe Takeover” that happened at IDW last May (2017), Judge Dredd was one of the comics that got the special one-shot treatment (others being Ghostbusters, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, and The X-Files).  Enough preamble, let’s see what’s going on in Funko’s version of Mega City One!

Judge Dredd #1:  Funko Universe
Published by IDW
Writer:  John Layman
Artists:  Francesco Gaston, Troy Little
Release Date:  May 2017

For more information or to order online Click Here

If you live near me in the Chico Ca area get your copy at Collector’s Ink

In the Redding Ca area?  Go talk to the team at Caption Comics

How about Manteca CA?  Fantastic Collectibles can help you out.

And in the Sacramento CA area, say hello to Gene at Comics & Collectibles

So many great fun moments in this, and lines to quote, such as “Judges don’t run from hugs”.  Like most Dredd stories presented in 2000 A.D., this comic is a collection of short stories “anthology” style, so I’ll discuss each one.

“Crim Story” introduces the Funko version of Mega City One, and our titular hero Judge Dredd.  There’s a mutant “pop” version Minotaur running amok and after a good bit of cartoon violence (this is a family friendly book, no, seriously), Dredd pulls up on the scene on his Lawmaster.  THis is when the short takes off.  The interaction between the Minotaur “Buffalo Burt Blaylock” and Dredd is classic.  This isn’t a story that’s going to advance any character, it’s a story there to have fun with the preconceived notions of our favorite Judge.  Classic lines are thrown about, the writer and artist are having a good time, and we are along for the ride.  The twist on the classic is that the Narrator is in on the gag, a character in the story themselves.  Is Dredd able to stop Blaylock, while a narrator is giving him ideas on escape and how to defeat Dredd?  Yes, they can hear the narrator, like I said, he’s part of the story.  Classic Dredd meets Loony Tunes here, and it’s hilarious.

The second story is “All Pupped Up”.  The humor of this book continues greatly here.  Dredd is on patrol near the park when he hears a call for help.  A little old lady (mutant “pop” old lady with three eyes) has lost her dog, and only Dredd can get it back.  Their fear?  That “sweet little Norton” has gone into a special exhibit still going up, “The Deadly Plants Of The Cursed Earth”.  And sure enough, when Dredd gets close enough, he sees a cute little pug up in a tree.  Because of course in this world, dogs love to climb trees, seriously, it came up in a conversation in the story.  Now Dredd must fight his way through the exhibit of man (or Pop) eating plants.  But is this pug Norton?  You’ll only find out through reading.  My favorite part of this book is in this story though, as Dredd is walking with the pug, and it imagines a life as his sidekick, “Pug Dredd”.

The one you’ve all been waiting for, the question i can hear you all asking out there, it’s answered in the third and final story in the book “Matters Of Life & Death”.  Do they do Judge Death?  Oh my friends, yes, yes they do, and it’s amazing.  Dredd and Anderson just happen to be going for a stroll when a crowd of people run screaming by.  Dredd, grabbing a random citizen finds out why everyone is running, Zombies!!!   A scene is described for them where a portal opened and the Dark Judges emerged (and they are so cute as “Pops”), firing rays that turn people into zombies.  Dredd and Anderson must get involved, but what about the innocent people, can they turn them back from zombies?  A frontal assault won’t work, they will have to sneak in to get some of the gear Judge Death and his group of Dark Judges (Judge Mortis, Judge Fear, & Judge Fire) brought with them.  Time to go undercover.  This story made me laugh out loud.  I learned some things about Judges from Dredd in this one.  Not only are they “The Law”, but the law does not run from Zombies, and it does not run from hugs.

I highly recommend this comic book.  It’s fun for everyone.  As a Dredd fan you’ll appreciate the humor in the throwbacks to the stories from not only 2000 A.D., but IDW’s own ongoing series.  If you’re a cartoon fan (like Loony Tunes), you’ll get a kick out of the style and comedy reminiscent of Bugs Bunny.  Also, it’s an all ages book.  That means it’s a comic book you can get for your kids and enjoy with them.

Now I’m going to the pet store to get my own Pug Dredd.  Till next time everyone, keep reading comics!

Shane Will

└ Tags: Caliber, chaotik fiction, CK Comics, comedy, fantasy, funko, Gaston, horror comedy, idw, judge anderson, judge death, judge dredd, Layman, Little, pops, sci-fi, Shane Will
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